I was excited to see the Feb. 3 collaboration by Rabbi Amy Scheinerman of the Baltimore Board of Rabbis and Gerald Stansbury of the NAACP in their joint call for civic engagement on the issue of the death penalty (“End Death Penalty,” Feb. 3).

A good first step is to sign up at md case.org and to take the actions suggested or go to http://mdelect.net to find your state legislators. Then send them a brief note urging a floor debate on the bill so that there can be a vote in the House of Delegates and in the Senate this year.

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Baltimore

Rabbi Daniel Burg supports his agreement with same sex marriages by suggesting, “Literal interpretation of the Torah can sometimes lead to misinterpretation of its meaning” (“Nuanced Faith,” Feb. 3).

Let us look at the section of Leviticus, chapter 18, that we read on Yom Kippur at minchah. It tells us that we are prohibited from copying the immoral practices of Egypt and Canaan, and then states that a man may not lay with another man’s wife (adultery), a man may not lay with a close female relative (incest) or with another man (sodomy) or an animal (bestiality). How does Rabbi Burg think we have misinterpreted the meaning of the holiness code? Would he permit adultery? Incest? Sodomy? Bestiality? “Faith can be quite nuanced” as Rabbi Burg says, but there is a limit to nuance.

We can fully support civil partnership or civil union to protect the person’s civil rights, but we cannot nuance the Torah to mean the opposite of what it very clearly says.

Joseph Feld
London

From the piece “End Death Penalty” we learn that “Jewish tradition for the past 1,700 years has strongly and unequivocally opposed” the death penalty.

I am far from an expert on Judaism, but my memory goes back to the arrest and trial of Eichman in the early 1960s. What sentence did he receive from an Israeli tribunal? Death by hanging, a sentence promptly carried out.

Do the writers condemn this sentence? Presumably they must, for if not they would be acknowledging that the death penalty is not universally wrong — and Jewish tradition has not unequivocally or consistently opposed it — but its use is dependent upon the nature of the crime committed.

Gerald Langbaum
Baltimore

In the Feb. 3 column “Israel: An Endangered Democracy?” Dr Robert O. Freedman stated that Israel is moving away from democracy because of newspaper censorship, weakening Israel High Court, and limit Israel aid to countries that do not pass a “Zionist” purity test.

This is a typical liberal view of anything that Israel does. I lived in Israel for three years working as an engineer department head in their defense industry. I know what it feels like to live in a small country surrounded by people who want to annihilate you and what politicians do to protect their country so that Israel will still be a country. I also know what it feels like to live in Baltimore for 44 years surrounded by Jews and no one trying to kill you. I suggest Dr. Freedman live in Israel for two or more years, feel the tension from the neighbors, and go into a sealed room in your house when air raid horns sound due to bombs with diseases falling near you.

Stanley Bush
Tampa, Fla.

It’s always a good time to recognize the courage of those who come forward in action and mitzvot to help those who can’t help themselves. Thank you, Phil, for your article on Rebbetzin Weinberg.

Many child sexual abuse survivors and advocates in Pittsburgh will soon have the chance to learn more about Mr. Jacobs’ courage (and that of the Baltimore Jewish Times publisher) as the Pittsburgh JFilm board will feature “Standing Silent” in the upcoming Jewish Film Festival. Kol Hakavod, Rebbetzin Weinberg and Phil Jacobs.

Rochelle Robinson Sufrin,
Pittsburgh, PA

No, I won’t forget this lovely lady, Rebbetzin Chana Weinberg, either (“A ‘Leader Of Leaders,’ ” Jan. 27).

The last time “Tante Chana” made a public appearance was to honor me at a Kiddush given at the Ner Israel yeshiva on Thanksgiving weekend. I was so touched. Mrs. Weinberg and her daughter, Dr. Aviva Weisbord, adopted me into the family. The whole mishpachah has been my foundation into Yiddishkeit. My condolences to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joseph Lee Krome
Owings Mills

The words of Larry and Lisa Levey deeply touched me and not in a good way (“Stop Haredim,” Jan. 20).

The Haredim may not contribute much financially to Israel, but to say they contribute little to its defense is an injustice. There is a reason that Israel does not require their yeshiva bucherim to join the army. The Haredim are the protectors of Torah in Israeli society. Prayer and learning do more for the defense of Israel than bombs and guns can ever do.

Remember, it is only by HaShem’s will that Israel even exists and Jews are allowed to enter it. If non-Haredim choose not to follow Torah or to believe learning is just as important as working or being in the Army, that is fine. The Haredim still pray and learn for Israel’s sake. To change a U.S. Army quote, “They attend Kollel so you don’t have to.”

That being said, it is sad that a small number of them have made the rest look bad. When I traveled to Israel recently, I took pride in seeing so many frum Jews walking around openly displaying their religion. I was somewhat offended by the treating of Israel as though it were simply L.A., or the Jersey Shore.

Sure, there are wackos, like everywhere, and they deserve to be arrested, but do not lump Haredim in with them. You will only be punishing yourself if you punish the learners of Torah.

Robin Hirsch
Baltimore

It is amazing to me how often professor Kenneth Lasson writes on the only subject he cares to write about, which, of course, is Jonathan J. Pollard (“‘Here I Am,’” Jan. 20).

I don’t remember Lasson ever criticizing George W. Bush for not pardoning Pollard. It is only Obama who receives the shiv from his dastardly pen. But I get it. Obama is a progressive and is a man of color. We can’t have that. So I’m sure if a Republican would be in the White House, he would quiet his drivel to nowhere.

Joe Marcus
Baltimore

In her Jan. 20 letter, “Tebow Or Not Tebow,” Ms. Judy Chernak refers to “all this Jesus stuff.” Is this equivalent to “you people” for Jews?

Joseph Trost
Baltimore

Regarding Michael Olesker’s Jan. 13 column “A Democratic Choice,” Michael, you did it again. You forgot (maybe not) to mention your dear friend President Obama and his mentor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and their “love” for the Jewish People.

You remember Rev. Wright? He’s the guy who uttered those famous words “G-d damn America.” I guess it’s only fitting that after hear-ing this for 20 years, Mr. Obama should grow up to be president of the United States.

But fear not; this guy will go down as the worst president in our history. Let’s not make the same mistake again. Michael, you should take about 10 seconds and read up on all Obama has accomplished for the good of the country while in office. The only one I can think of is that he lowered his golf handicap.

Norman Wolfe 
Pikesville

Kol HaKovid (sort of). The newly formatted and restructured Baltimore Jewish Times is a vast improvement. The articles are much more interesting, intellectual and informative.

However, if you were hoping to increase readership using the glossy paper and gray versus black ink, you have defeated your purpose. The Jewish Times is now very hard on the eyes. One must constantly move the magazine around in order to see the print clearly. The light shining on the glossy paper and the lighter shade of ink cause a glare and make the pages difficult and uncomfortable to read.

People with no sight problems must keep changing the position of the magazine to get rid of the glare. In addition, there are senior citizens with eye problems out here, and they have a hard time reading the new Jewish Times. They need dull-finished paper and dark ink to read with ease and comfort.

Sonia Looban Greenspon
Baltimore

Yasher Koach to Rabbi and Mrs. Shalom Zirkind for relocating their family to Baltimore to start the Friendship Circle (“Circle Game,” January 20).

I am quite familiar with the wonderful benefits of this international program, as we have a Friendship Circle here in Howard County, which is sponsored in part by the Jewish Federation of Howard County. Rabbi and Mrs. Yosef Chaim Sufrin lead this program and offer monthly social events to families with children with special needs.

They also offer the Friends @ Home program for teen volunteers to be matched up with children/teens with special needs. Through these programs, a community is created of Jewish families of all ages and abilities.

Michelle N. Goldberg
jTeen & Parent Project Director Jewish Federation of Howard County

In the Jan. 6, 2012, Jewish Times, I read what Rabbi Chaim Landau wrote about what is happening in Beit Shemesh. I strongly agree with Rabbi Landau. How could a Jewish person treat another Jewish man, woman, or child this way?

I was born in Morocco. My family respected the Jewish religion’s traditions. We went to synagogue seven days a week, kept the kashrut and the wearing of clothes normal. After I became a bar mitzvah, my late parents sent me to Israel.

I lived in a kibbutz and I proudly served three-and-one-half years in the Israel Defense Forces. It is common knowledge that the Haredi Orthodox generally do not serve in the Israel Armed Forces. Therefore, they should not be criticizing the young men and women who bravely and proudly serve those who protect us against Israel’s enemies.

We are one people, am echad. After we received the Torah on Mount Sinai, we were wandering in the dessert for over 40 years. During this time, men, women and children prayed together, ate together and celebrated simchot together.

Rabbi Landau, I agree with you 100 percent that women should also be part of our regular Shabbat prayers; have a simple mechitzah and let’s not put them as second class.

Mike Baziz
Baltimore

Yasher koach and kudos to Rabbi Chaim Landau for his courage in speaking out against the recent outrages being perpetrated by a segment of the Israeli Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population (“Jews Worst Enemies” Jan. 6). Free of the equivocation found in recent press releases by certain other Orthodox organizations, Rabbi Landau’s statement reflects the feelings of a growing segment of the Jewish population both here and in Israel.

The time has come to reassess the wisdom of supporting a growing Haredi welfare state-within-a-state, one that contributes little to Israel’s economy and defense, demands in corrupt and coercive fashion a disproportionate share of societal resources, is hostile to Israel’s ideals and to most of its population, has been given unlimited power over such personal status issues as marriage, divorce and conversion, and represents a Taliban-like parody of Jewish belief and practice, one that transforms our holy faith and tradition into a grotesque and odious caricature that serves to drive away so many.

We who love both Israel and our precious Jewish faith — who see the potential in our homeland and our religion being subverted by a lawless band of extremists — can no longer remain silent.

Larry and Lisa Levey
Pikesville

Vince Troiano is a true positive spirit and has an awesome soul. He always has a smile on his face and always makes me laugh. He is truly an inspiration to me!

Rachel Lewis
Baltimore

Regarding last week’s article “Too Much Retail?” I was a resident of Reisterstown for 29 years and have been a resident of Pikesville for the last six years.

When I was living in Reisterstown and Owings Mills Mall first opened, I was thrilled to have a first-class shopping mall in my area. Before that I had to shop at Security Square Mall or Westview Mall. Now I finally had a mall in my area that did not require me to travel on the Baltimore Beltway to go shopping.

Then Owings Mills Mall went downhill after Saks 5th Ave., Lord & Taylor and finally Hecht’s left. Once again, I was forced to travel in order to shop in quality stores, either Towson Town Center, Columbia Mall or Hunt Valley Shopping Center.

When it was announced this past fall that there would finally be major redevelopment in Owings Mills, I was very excited at the prospect of again being able to shop in my own neighborhood and I am sure there are many others who feel the same.

I find it hard to believe that these major developers have not done their homework and would commit to spending major dollars if they did not have confidence in these projects.
If Greenberg Gibbons has the same good security at Foundry Row that they have at Hunt Valley Center and if the developers of Owings Mills Mall follow suit, these projects should do well.

Ellen Lafferman
Pikesville

Regarding last week’s cover story “Start Your Engines,” I hope that this supposed Jewish legacy stops with the current generation of Felds. Feld Entertainment embodies the opposite of what I consider to be Jewish values.

Ringling Bros. was recently fined $270,000 — the largest such fine ever imposed — by the USDA for its treatment of its elephants and other animals. In 2009, a lawsuit over Feld’s treatment of its elephants, brought by animal welfare organizations including the ASPCA, was tried in federal court in Washington. I attended much of the trial and heard Kenneth Feld and a number of his employees testify under oath to the abuse to which they subject their elephants. You can learn more in an excellent November/December 2011 “Mother Jones” magazine article titled “The Cruelest Show On Earth,” which is on that publication’s website.

Amy Mayers
Washington, D.C.

Names that recently appeared in the Baltimore Jewish Times’ “Word Up” section are completely fictitious and do not refer to any actual individuals in the community. The Jewish Times regrets any confusion.

Regarding Andrew Buerger’s Jan. 13 Publisher’s Notebook, “God’s Big Game,” thanks for telling it like it is. All this Jesus stuff [regarding Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow] is really getting nauseating and serves only to cheapen religion and one’s personal, private faith. It’s also divisive rather than unifying. Who needs this in America?

Judy Chernak
Baltimore

Dr. Robert O. Freedman’s words are possibly persuasive to well meaning people, but writing about history should be left to a historian (“Gingrich: Poor Historian,” Jan. 6).  An article on the concept “Arab Nationalism” would be most interesting.

Arthur Solomon
Baltimore